Earliest Time to Disembark

[bassoongirl]

This is a question for all the experienced cruisers...

What is the earliest time you can disembark from the Magic in Port Canaveral? We have an opportunity to use free airline ticket vouchers from Spirit Airlines for our cruise next February. The problem is the only flight available on Saturday departs at 8:55 am. I know that is really early! Unfortunately, there are no tickets available for any other times on Saturday or even Sunday.

For our cruise last February, we used Happy Limo to transport us to and from the port. I plan to use their service again, so we won't have to wait for DCL transportation.

Thanks for your help!

Gayl

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

I think there's a very good chance you would miss that flight. Disembarkation depends on a lot of factors: whether the ship arrives on time, how long US Customs takes, both with the ship and the passengers reporting who exceeded their allowance and owe duty. Immigration for non-US citizens is also done onboard, and the ship won't clear until all of these passengers have reported. Basically, the ship is in the hands of the Customs and Immigration officials, and it's up to them when they clear it for disembarkation.

I think the earliest I've ever gotten off is around 7:30am. You then have to find your bags in the terminal (unless you want to carry them with you on the last morning) and go through Customs, which is usually pretty easy, but can take 10-15 minutes even on a good day.

I'd say that if they clear the ship at 7:30am, you were the very first ones off the ship, kept your lugage with you, breezed through Customs/Immigration, and got on the road right away, you'd have maybe a 50-50 chance of making the flight, if that. And you'd be doing your OJ Simpson impression trying to get to your gate. If anything goes wrong or causes an undue delay, you're going to miss it.

And yes, I know the OJ Simpson reference dates me.....

 

[TheWog]

I'd place money that you would miss that flight. Even the slightest delay you would definitely miss it, but with check in at the airport and security I don't think there is any way you could do it.

 

[westjones]

I can't see how you are going to make that either. You might want to try flying out another day if there are no other flights that day, but I just don't see this a possible.

DJ

 

[dclwdwlover]

Also, even with the best scenario & you get off by 7:30, breeze through customs, no traffic delays getting to the airport (50-60 min.), what about the 2-hour (even if only 1-hour) prior arrival time that the airline requires before the departure time?

I don't see ANY possible way you could make an 8:55 am flight at all.

 

[ksjayhawks]

Originally posted by Lloyd Dobler

I'd say that if they clear the ship at 7:30am, you were the very first ones off the ship, kept your lugage with you, breezed through Customs/Immigration, and got on the road right away, you'd have maybe a 50-50 chance of making the flight, if that. And you'd be doing your OJ Simpson impression trying to get to your gate. If anything goes wrong or causes an undue delay, you're going to miss it.

And yes, I know the OJ Simpson reference dates me.....

Dates me too . . .


Plus the above, even if you got on the road right away, you have no leeway for traffic tie-ups, checking in, etc. By the time you would get there, the plane would probably be boarded and the door shut.

That is too bad. Can you use the tickets on a Monday?? Or can they route you home a different way? We used free vouchers when we went on our cruise and had to make a detour through Miami coming in, but it was worth the few extra hours. Call and speak to a rep and see what they can do.